Thursday, July 25, 2013

The Best News

Most people who know me as an adult don't know that, for my family, being surrounded by health issues was the norm for many years. From my dad, who was a paraplegic as a result of a car accident he had in his early 30s (when I was Sophie age, a little over two years old) to my mom, who was diagnosed with kidney disease when I wasn't much older, and then my dad's two bouts with cancer, first when I was 16 and finally, terminally, when I was a 19 year old college sophomore. It wasn't until the worst of those medical situations were behind us that I realized there is life outside of that particular framework. I don't feel sorry for myself or wish things had been different; it was just the way it was. What I am is grateful for every day now that my family doesn't struggle with disease or injury. All that leads to the truly amazing news my mom received at her annual visit to the Mayo Clinic. For the first time since 1984, she crossed the line from partial
remission to no kidney disease. That's a long way from the doctor who
originally told her she'd never see me grow up! I feel so thankful that she received this good news and I'm reflecting on what it means to know that almost 30 years ago, a terrible doctor gave her a death sentence that she could have accepted but chose not to. I'm also thankful to my mom for choosing to fight for her health and find the right medical team to see her through this long and difficult journey. I love you, mom!I hope good news finds all of you in the days ahead and thanks for letting me share a little piece of our happiness!